Chapter 191: Conflicted Hearts "Do you have to be so harsh on him?" Meilyn questioned Richard, her voice tinged with concern.
"Harsh? I’m just being realistic. This neighborhood is worth at least a million now, and from what you’ve told me, he doesn’t come from a wealthy family.
"Wait . . . don’t tell me you still have feelings for him. That’s why you’re defending him," Richard said, his tone sharp with disbelief.
"I explained our situation to you. Xin and I are childhood friends, and he had just come out of a coma, so . . ." Meilyn started, her voice trailing off, trying to justify her actions.
"So I have to be nice to him? Why should I adjust for him? It’s not my fault he slipped and fell into a coma," Richard retorted, his frustration evident.
Meilyn’s mood plummeted further. Her lips pursed, and she looked like she was on the verge of tears.
Richard was generally a nice guy, but when it came to Xin and other boys interested in her, he transformed into someone different, someone possessive and insecure.
Richard’s jealousy was evident, casting a shadow over their relationship.
Initially, Meilyn found Richard’s possessiveness endearing, but as time passed, it became suffocating. Constantly having to explain herself and reassure him of her love was draining and frustrating.
Reflecting on the past, Meilyn remembered that it was quite the opposite with Xin. She used to be the one struggling with jealousy, especially when she noticed other girls admiring him from afar.
Xin was never one to impose restrictions on her freedom or dictate what she should do. In his presence, she felt completely at ease, able to be her true self without any inhibitions. She could chat with him about anything and everything, sharing her thoughts and dreams without fear of judgment.
He would listen attentively, his expression often a neutral mask, but that was all Meilyn needed — a patient listener who respected her opinions and didn’t engage in unnecessary arguments.
In Xin, she found not just a friend but a confidant who valued her feelings and thoughts.
"And what did he mean by wanting to buy his old house back?" Richard pressed, his tone accusatory. "Is he some sort of stalker, unable to move on, hoping to rekindle a past romance by being your neighbor again?"
The idea of Xin returning as their neighbor made Meilyn’s heart skip a beat. She was uncertain about how she felt regarding the idea.
However, she masked her emotions, not wanting Richard to explode in jealousy once more.
Internally, Meilyn grappled with conflicting emotions. The nostalgia of their shared past and the prospect of seeing Xin regularly again stirred a mix of excitement and apprehension within her.
Yet, she remained composed, careful not to betray her true feelings to Richard, fearing his explosive reaction.
"It’s not what you think," Meilyn argued back, her voice edged with frustration. "It’s their childhood home. Naturally, they would want it back."
"Defending him, are you? Seriously, Meilyn?" Richard’s tone was sharp, and Meilyn sensed his anger, especially when he used her full name instead of his usual endearing ’Meimei.’
Feeling exasperated, Meilyn took a deep breath and sighed, her gaze drifting up to the ceiling. "What do you expect me to say? It’s the truth."
"Sometimes, you just need to agree with me and take my side. I am your boyfriend, after all," Richard retorted, his tone demanding compliance.
As their argument continued, Meilyn found herself explaining her perspective when suddenly, Richard’s demeanor changed.
His eyes shifted to his side mirrors, and he muttered in disbelief, "Did you see that car just now? Is there a billionaire in this neighborhood? That’s a custom-made Bugatti! No one should be able to afford that here."
Meilyn frowned, utterly bewildered by the abrupt change in topic. "Excuse me?"
"No offense, but that car that just passed by is custom-made. Only important and powerful people could afford such a vehicle," Richard explained, his focus entirely on the car he had seen.
Meilyn couldn’t believe how Richard had shifted from arguing with her to discussing a car in the blink of an eye.
It felt like his mood changed as swiftly as flipping a switch, leaving her both baffled and frustrated by his unpredictable behavior.
Meanwhile, lost in his thoughts, Xin walked along the streets, trying to figure out his next move, when he noticed Seraphina’s car pulling up beside him.
Xin climbed into the car, his troubled expression not going unnoticed by Seraphina.
"It seems like your plan didn’t work out as you hoped," she observed, breaking the heavy silence between them.
With a sigh, Xin nodded. "You could say that."
"Care to share what happened?" Seraphina asked, her tone gentle yet probing.
Xin recounted the conversation he had with the current owner of their old house, his frustration evident in his voice.
Seraphina’s eyelid twitched in disbelief. "He actually said that to you?"
"He probably thinks I’m joking because I’m young. Maybe if I brought my mother along, he would take this more seriously," Xin said, deep in thought.
"Do you truly need to reclaim your old house?" Seraphina questioned, her eyes narrowing with concern as she looked at Xin intently. "You can stay in the penthouse for as long as you want."
Xin met Seraphina’s gaze, his expression resolute. "I have to get that house back, no matter what. There are too many memories there that I’m not willing to let go of."
Seraphina held Xin’s gaze, sensing the determination in his eyes and the unwavering in his tone.
After a moment of contemplation, she nodded. "Alright then. Let’s go back and talk to that man once more."
Xin felt a jolt of surprise as Seraphina suddenly maneuvered the car, heading back towards his old house.
". . . Huh?" he exclaimed, clearly taken aback by her unexpected decision.
"Maybe I can talk some sense into him," Seraphina said, her tone confident as she glanced at Xin.
"You’re going to speak to him?" Xin asked, his surprise evident in his voice.
Seraphina nodded, flashing a wink at Xin. "I can be quite persuasive, you know. Plus, I’m older than you, so he’ll definitely take me seriously."
Xin found himself momentarily stunned into silence. He couldn’t fathom anyone in the world not taking Seraphina seriously; her confidence and aura demanded respect and attention.